MEMORANDUM AND ORDER The origin of the motions before the Court lies in an arbitration (the “Arbitration”) that began in 2016 between petitioner Jeffrey R. Moster (“petitioner” or “Moster”) and others and respondent Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (“respondent” or “Credit Suisse”). Petitioner’s claims were dismissed by the arbitration panel (the “Panel”) on January 22, 2019 (the “2019 Order”) after the Panel found that he reached a walk-away settlement agreement with respondent. Petitioner now moves to vacate an arbitration award issued on November 5, 2021 (the “2021 Award”), concerning other claimants in the Arbitration1, but which petitioner argues made final the 2019 Order, under Section 10 of the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), 9 U.S.C. §10. Petitioner alleges that the arbitrators exceeded their authority in dismissing his claims, acted in manifest disregard of the law, and deprived him of a fair hearing. Respondent argues that the petition should be dismissed as untimely or, in the alternative, that it should be denied because the arbitrators acted appropriately and within their scope of authority, did not manifestly disregard the law, and afforded petitioner a fair hearing. For the reasons stated below, respondent’s motion is granted and the petition to vacate the arbitration award is denied. BACKGROUND I. Factual Background and Arbitration Petitioner is a former employee and FINRA-registered “Associated Person” of respondent. See Petition 2, ECF No. 1. The events precipitating the underlying arbitration occurred when respondent closed its private banking division in the United States, allegedly terminating petitioner and cancelling his vested deferred compensation. Id. 7. On September 26, 2016, petitioner, along with fourteen other claimants, filed a Statement of Claim and commenced an arbitration with FINRA against respondent, asserting claims of breach of contract, fraud, unjust enrichment, violation of the FINRA Rules of Fair Practice, and violation of the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act (“IWPCA”). Id.
